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High Notes, Vol 11 No 23, July 30 2010
From the Principal
High Talent
Drama at High is back with a bang
Debating Assembly "Special Guest, Tanvir Uddin (06), parents, coaches, staff, debaters and students, welcome to our annual debating assembly. Debating and public speaking are important co-curricular activities at our school. We have an envied reputation in debating, with outstanding success in the Year 11 and 12 competitions over 75 years. Debaters are made not born. Their raw abilities need to be trained rigorously to hone individual and team skills. Good debating teams must work well as a group, trust each other, respect each other, and above all, help each other. The quality of the debating program at High is due to the structure and people that support it. "Dana Quick has again led from the front with strong organisation, good human resource management and above all passion for the program. With 15 teams in GPS competition, the program is large and complex. Moreover the season is a long one, with organisation extending from February to September. I want to thank Dana for her efforts this year. Ms Berger has been involved with debating for ten years. She has threatened to resign each year since we last won the Hume Barbour. Each year the prospect of a Karl Cramp or Hume Barbour victory seems to draw her back in April. Now, our team is in the final of the Hume Barbour again, she says she definitely will quit this year. If she does, debating will have lost a stalwart – a most energetic and committed mentor. I want to acknowledge her dedication and expertise exhibited over many years. Thank you to our in-school managers Mr Webb and Ms Finnie who organise teams, fixtures and accompany teams to competition venues. "The success of the debating program over time has depended upon the willingness of Old Boys to get involved and put something back into the school that nurtured their talents. This year Old Boy Kelvin Yu (07) coached first grade and Michael Coutts (07) second grade. I want to thank them and all the other coaches for their work with our boys this year. "The Friday Evening Debating Competition for Year 11 2010 was won by Nakul Bhagwat, Samuel Khoo, Michael Tickner and Sujay Salagame – a praiseworthy result! Our Hume Barbour Finalists include Angud Chawla, Antony Paul and Max Phillis who were selected in the CHS Debating Team – a great representation from High! "While the focus of our assembly is on debating it would be remiss of me not to acknowledge the achievements of high boys in rifle shooting at the GPS Shoot this week. While we are in a rebuilding phase as a team, following last year’s co-premiership, our inexperienced boys acquitted themselves well, as High finished strongly on Wednesday afternoon to snatch an equal third placing in the overall competition. [ Welcome to the stage] Most impressive was Ryan Woo’s performance as King of the Range – the best shooter in the GPS. Congratulations to Ryan, Brendan Leo, Peter Tran and Yujin Wu who were named in the combined GPS target rifle shooting team – a great effort! "Public Speaking this year has been managed very efficiently by Ms Barr. I thank her for her effort and also all the brave boys who stood up and competed in what surveys suggest is one of the most stressful activities that people have to face – speaking in public. Even more stressful then is to be compared to others in this feared endeavour. Kushall Vyas (Year 9) won third place in the NSW Rostrum Voice of Youth final. John Aclis (Year 12) represented High in the Lawrence Campbell Competition. Well done to those two competitors. "Debating is a very disciplined yet enjoyable co-curricular activity. A debate is a formal method of interactive and representational argument. It is different from logical and factual argument and from rhetoric because it relies on context. The winning side is the one which provides the audience and adjudicators with the better framework of the issue, the more persuasive practical application of the proposition. Debaters propose and defend models of how the debatable proposition can be understood and applied in real life contexts. They affirm a proposition by saying what it will mean if the proposition is implemented. As a form of argument debating is subtle and strategic and incorporates many features of other forms of argument – logic, facts, persuasion. Models can be attacked on the basis of feasibility, completeness, timeliness or undesirable effects flowing from their application in practice. The negative team’s main task is to destroy the arguments framed as a model for action, in order to convince the adjudicator that adopting the proposition is not warranted. Sometimes, negative sides propose alternative models designed to illustrate the imperfections of the affirmative model or to highlight the ill effects of its adoption. Many times teams are forced to argue counter intuitive propositions or to assert ethically or morally incompatible ideas in order to win the day. The contest requires intense focus and application, particularly during the prep hour before the debate commences. All of the intellectual, intrapersonal development and interpersonal skills developed through participation in a debating program are twenty-first century vocational skills.
"Today we are presenting teams to represent us in GPS competition. I congratulate all those boys
who have won selection in a competitive process. The Louat Shield is the prize we seek, awarded
to GPS champions. Our first contest is against Shore tonight. Good luck to all our
contestants!" 
From the Two LibrariesWhat’s Up in the McDonald Senior LibraryDevelopment of the Senior Library continues with new shelving to house those books steadily being transferred from the Andrews library, and the addition of new books bought and donated during the Book Fair. We are now starting to resemble a “proper” library and borrowings are increasing as a result! Despite the approach of Trials for Year 12s short breaks from hard study can be filled with a relaxing read. We have some great ones available.
New titles being added this week include: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson – First book in a trilogy a fantastic and intriguing thriller starring the enigmatic and dangerous Lisbeth Salander. You won’t be able to put it down once started! We need to Talk about Kevin by Lionel Shriver – Winner of the Orange Prize for literature – a mother writes letters about her son Kevin who murdered seven of his fellow high school students. The Knife of Never letting go by Patrick Ness – first book in the Chaos Walking series – a terrific novel “Astonishingly powerful and breathtakingly exciting...about the dangerous choices of growing up.” I am Not a Serial Killer: a sickly-disturbing, darkly-comic thriller by Dan Wells Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel – Winner of the 2009 Man Booker Prize, bringing the “opulent, brutal world of the Tudors to bloody, glittering life.” The Book of Lies by James Moloney – “a rich and wonderful tale of high fantasy to be read under the covers with a torch...and the doors deadlocked. Twice!” Gary Crew The Rough Guide to Happiness: practical steps for all-round well-being by Dr Nick Bayliss These titles will be available from Friday of this week so be the first to come and borrow one of these fantastic books!
Finally, some exciting news for Year 10 students – On Friday September 3 young
author Tristan Bancks will be visiting SBH to speak about his career as an author and actor and
the digital tools he utilizes to inspire budding writers and assist them to get “those
stories out of the head and onto the page.” From the Andrews Library
NEW RESOURCES ANDREWS LIBRARY THIS WEEK SENIOR FICTION
Year 9 Parent Meeting
Year 9 Meeting with Year Adviser and Dinner –
6.30 p.m. - Meeting in Staff Common Room Dear Year 9 Parents, Ms. Suzanna Lim, our Year Adviser, has kindly agreed to meet parents and answer your questions at a meeting organised on Tuesday 10 August at 6.30 p.m. This will be followed by dinner at nearby restaurant in Crown Street, Surry Hills. This will give us all a great opportunity to ask questions and meet other parents. Please RSVP to my email address by Sunday 8 August for the 6.30 p.m. meeting, as well as the 7.45 p.m. dinner, so we can choose and confirm numbers with the restaurant. Please also email back with any questions, so we can pass them on to our Year Adviser, and try to find answers for you. We hope you can all make it, and look forward to meeting you all.
Kind regards,
探花视频 Cadet UnitSuccessful UK TourThe Rifle Team Tour to Bisley was a great success. Our cadets on tour were :
Corporal Brendan Leo
Two Knox Grammar School Cadet Unit cadets joined us Brendan Leo was elected Team Captain and did a great job in that role. All members competed well in the very high level competition. Early events were marred by equipment failures with our loan rifles and sights. Following urgent work by the supporting armourers our rifles starting producing the results our shooters were capable of and Aussie names started appearing in the merit lists.
Medals to Brendan Leo Complete results for the two major events can be found at (ISCRM) and (Schools Meeting) The Team Commandant, Major Richard Knowles expressed complete satisfaction with the team and praised the team coach Mr Christopher Budd (探花视频 Rifle Club) and Team Adjutant Capt Rod Wicks (Knox) for their 100% support of our shooters. The team found time to relax away from competitive shooting – a fun day clay target shooting, sightseeing trips to the Imperial War Museum at Duxford Airfield, the Historic Portsmouth Naval Dockyard with tours of Nelson’s HMS Victory and an evening in London. Following completion of the Schools Meeting events, the Team hurried back to Sydney in order to be available for the GPS Competition. Despite fears of “jet lag” our cadets performed well alongside their non-cadet team mates and displayed the benefits of the “Bisley Experience” - CDT Ryan Woo’s shooting won him “King of the Range” for the 2010 GPS. Congratulations to CPL Brendan Leo, CDTs Yujin Wu and Ryan Woo on their selection to the Combined GPS Rifle Team
The Team wishes to thank our sponsors and supporters : Promotion CoursesOur cadets performed well at the NSW promotion courses held at Singleton Army Training Area in the Hunter Valley during the holidays. Now qualified for promotion:
To Corporal
To Sergeant
To Warrant Officer/Cadet Under Officer Course:
Course Quotes - At High, we are one of the smaller school based army cadet units, however, whether it be in rifle shooting, adventure training or promotion courses, our cadets continue to “punch well above their weight” Notice to CadetsWith effect from this week, our logistics supervisor, Mr Ho, will be available at the Q Store at lunch break on Fridays for any Q matters.
Those members requiring clothing exchanges need to be sure to allow one week after lodging their
“Loss & Damage Reports”. No replacement issues can be made until the L & D
vouchers has been approved by the OC.
From the CanteenToasted foccacias – chicken avocado, chicken and cheese; hot pasta boxes; chilli chicken wraps: roast vegetable cous cous; home made soup....these are just some of the things you can purchase at canteen or order for lunch if you don’t want to miss out!! Check out the menu and the daily specials at canteen.
The following people helped last week to prepare the great food as mentioned above. A number of our regular Friday helpers have had to drop out due to a change in circumstances leaving the canteen short of help on those days. If anyone is free on a Friday especially, even for only a couple of hours, PLEASE give Karen and Tracey a call. YOUR help will mean there will be enough food, particularly of the wholesome and healthy variety, for the boys to eat and shorter queues.
Please ring canteen on 9360 4027.
SBHS DebatingUniversity of Sydney Senior Debating DayBest of luck to our two teams contesting this University competition today! GPS CompetitionAfter a successful start to the GPS season at Shore last week we are hosting Joeys for round two today. Topic Area: Current Affairs Parking
Date: August 7, 2010 (Saturday) Parking is an important way for us to raise funds for debating. We get allocated a number parking events in the year. These events are run with the help of volunteering parents and boys. Participation at parking events counts towards boys’ Student Award scheme. Parking is free for Swans members, so there is no need to accept money or hand out a ticket for this event. You will be collecting vouchers from the members or showing the drivers where to park. For any parents and boys who are new to parking there is plenty of help and support available.
If you are able to help, please respond with the following information to
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Behaviour in CoachingBoys are reminded to show respect and courtesy for other schools and their property while at away debates. Prep rooms in particular need to be left in a clean and tidy state.
More information can be found at and will be emailed to
you on a weekly basis.
Music NotesMusic Tour 2010 to France & FlandersMusic Tour Photos and Videos are now accessible to staff and students on the W Drive, Photo Archive, 2010, Music Tour 2010 (France & Flanders). Music Tour Reunion NightA film, a photo, a memory evening… Great Hall from 6:30pm on Monday the 16th of August 2010 (Term 3, Wk 5). All students who went on the tour and families are invited to attend this evening to reminisce on the wonderful tour that was. Please keep this date available and mark it on the calendar. We look forward to seeing you all there. Upcoming PerformancesHSC elective music students will be performing at Eastgardens on Monday 2nd of August from midday as part of Education Week and at St Vincent’s Hospital on Tuesday 3rd of August as part of their Healing Arts Program from 12:30pm. HSC Music Performance WorkshopHSC Music Workshop will be held on Monday and Tuesday evening 2nd and 3rd of August from 5pm leading up to the HSC Trials the following week. We would like to invite you to come and listen to our talented musicians as they prepare for the performance examinations in the Great Hall.
High SocietyThe Bulletin Board for Sydney Boys High P & C
Julie Connolly P&C President. Capital Campaign 2010Sydney Boys High School has a proud tradition of giving back. Many of the facilities and opportunities available now to our boys have been provided by past generations of parents and students contributing to the School’s Building Funds. For example the Senior Study Centre, new tennis courts, redevelopment of the Outterside Centre, Canteen refurbishment, new Senior Library and the new Covered Outdoor Learning Centre. In this tradition of giving back, we are approaching every High family to contribute to SBHS Capital Campaign 2010 by donating to Sydney Boys High School Building Fund in one or both of two ways:
Donation Forms to contribute to Sydney Boys High School Building Fund are included in High Notes or available on the School website. The facilities and programs at SBHS are beyond what the great majority of other selective public schools provide and equal to many private schools – at a fraction of the cost. However for our boys to continue to benefit from these facilities and programs, the School needs to keep pace with its development program. The next targeted project for the SBHS Building Fund is a new Multipurpose Centre, which is urgently needed to expand and upgrade our teaching, examination, performing arts and debating facilities and free up much needed classrooms in the existing buildings. This is a major capital works commitment that includes the design and construction of a new two level building joining the Killip Wing and McDonald Building at the School’s Anzac Parade frontage. The Centre is planned to incorporate:
The cost of the project is estimated at $3.25 million. We currently have $835,000 on term deposit donated by parents and past students. We believe we can secure loan funding and commence the project if we have a $1 million deposit and a regular monthly stream of donation income to repay the loan.
Why isn’t this project funded by the Federal Government’s Building the Education
Revolution (BER) program?
What about other government funding? Sydney Boys High is the school it is because parents and old boys donate to the building of facilities beyond what the government can provide. It is the responsibility of each current group of parents to maintain and improve these facilities for the benefit of our boys now and into the future. If every family donated $200.00 as a once-off contribution to the SBHS Building Fund right now, we would have our $1 million deposit. If each of our 1,000 families donates at least $30.00 a month ($1.00 a day), we would raise $360,000 every year to repay the planned loan. This would have the Multipurpose Centre started next year. Considering the cost of an education at SBHS compared to other GPS schools, this could be affordable for most High families. A group of fellow parents will be telephoning you over the next few weeks to answer any questions you may have regarding SBHS Capital Campaign 2010. Thank you to Ada Leung, Carrie Waring, Debbie Lee, Janette Pich, Maeve O’Meara, Mary Lin, Raj Srikantashastry, Rakesh Sethi, Shankar Liu, Soogie Sim, Sylvie Shen, Tao Liu and Taylor Lin for taking on this important role on behalf of the School. In the meantime, take the opportunity to participate in SBHS Capital Campaign 2010 and send in your donation using the forms in High Notes - so we can personally thank you for your donation when a fellow parent calls. Upcoming Parent Meetings and Events
Wednesday 4th August, 6.00pm – Cricket Committee Meeting, Staff Common Room
Rifle ShootingThe Sydney High Rifle Team had high expectations this year, following last year’s Co-Premiership title at the GPS Competition. Despite knowing that we did not have as much depth as we did in the previous year, we went into this competition aiming for nothing less than a win. We had trained at Malabar Rifle Range for a season as well as a full week of our holidays, competed at the All Schools’ Rifle Shooting Competition, and had a training day at Hornsby Rifle Club, which is where the GPS Competition is held annually. While this was happening, six of the shooters in our squad were touring in Bisley, England, the centre of the shooting world. Consisting of Brendan Leo (Year 11), Ryan Woo (Year 11), Yujin Wu (Year 10), Adam Ceh (Year 9), Dominic Tran (Year 9) and Timothy Tran (Year 7), there they proudly represented the Australian Cadet Rifle Team for two weeks (meaning that they were unfortunately missing our Training Week back home). Despite this slight interruption, we were able to settle on a final 1st Grade Rifle Shooting Team after they returned from their tour, with myself as Captain, John Aclis (Year 12) as Vice-Captain, Ryan Woo (Year 11), Brendan Leo (Year 11), Peter Tran (Year 11), Yujin Wu (Year 10), Bart Daniels (Year 10), and Wilbert Wu (Year 9). After a full day and a half of shooting, we found that we had shot very well throughout the competition, coming in a strong equal 3rd overall. Although we were nowhere near the King’s 1st Grade Team this year, and lost to Shore’s runner-up team, we still came equal third with TAS, who were the All Schools’ Champions, and beat Grammar and Scots. Also, a brilliant effort from shooters Ryan Woo, Brendan Leo, Peter Tran, and Yujin Wu who were selected for the GPS Combined Team, meaning that we had an incredible four out of the best twelve shooters at the competition. Congratulations especially to Ryan, who earned the title of ‘King of the Range’, a highly prestigious title awarded to the competition’s highest scoring shooter. Ryan was also selected in the Under 25 City Team to compete in the City v Country Match to be held at Malabar on the 1 August. I’d also like to make a mention of the 2nd Grade, who shot admirably this year; led by Andy Xie (Year 12), they gained valuable experience while also posting some very competitive scores. The team consisted of Andy as captain, Anton Jurisevic (Year 12), Robert Sternhell (Year 10), Alexander Weinstock (Year 10), Adam Ceh (Year 10), Dominic Tran (Year 9), Bill Deng (Year 9), and Timothy Tran (Year 7). A great thank you to coaches Kevin Chan, Ishan Nadkarni and Joe Banh for their help throughout the season, to MIC Cathy Meaney for all her work in running the sport, to Old Boys Sam Kremer and Mr Barris for driving the bus, and to all the recently graduated Old Boys who came out to support us: Matthew Tong (2009), Denis Stojanovic (2009), Jack Wachsmann (2009), Johan Santoso (2009), Christopher Budd (2006), Sam Kremer (1992) and Nevin Spoljaric (2009). A special thank you must go to Mr John Fraser (1933) who yet again showed his avid support for High Shooting. Finally, a big thank you to all the parents who cheered us on while providing us with meals for the two days.
Overall, it has been a very successful season for High Shooting, and with our team still
maintaining a podium finish at the GPS Competition, it is only a matter of time until we have
another GPS Premiership team!
The Onion BagWet weatherYet again our fixtures last weekend were affected by wet weather and ground closures. A reminder that all players should check the school’s website for fixture changes on Saturday mornings. Any changes or cancellations will be indicated on the fixture list and the website is updated around 7am on Saturday mornings if changes are to be made. The website continues to be updated if further changes are made. Check before you leave home. Match Reports v Shore
1st Grade Lost 1 – 4
2nd Grade Lost 0 – 1
6th Grade Lost 2 - 6
7th Grade Won 4-3
15A Won 2 – 0. Fixtures this weekendWe have fixtures with St Joseph’s college as well as a range of other non GPS schools this weekend. The matches are spread out at a variety of venues. Players are advised to plan their travel to unfamiliar venues. Maps are available on the school website. Quote of the Week
‘It’s time we silenced those vuvuzelas once and for all ’
Basketball AGM
Wednesday 4th August at 7pm Parents: Please attend and be in support of the future direction of basketball
Attention all SBHS Football PlayersShow High Spirit by always wearing FULL football uniform when playing for your school. The new SHS junior football strip is being phased in this year. All 13s teams are to wear the new strip. All other teams are to wear the traditional strip. Under no circumstances should teams take the field with a combination of both! If boys need a traditional strip (no longer sold in the High Store), Anne Wall has a few that can be obtained free of charge. Call Anne on 0423 172 762 for more details. Note: All SHS football teams will wear the new strip next year. Goalkeepers - if you do not have a school keeper's jersey, please see Mr Gifford. Anyone with a school keeper's jersey who no longer requires one should return it to Mr Gifford ASAP.
Sydney Boys High School Building FundMonthly Tax Deductible Donation AdviceA Monthly Tax Deductible Donation Advice form is available in the PDF version of this edition of High Notes. Once-Off Tax Deductible Donation AdviceA Once-Off Tax Deductible Donation Advice form is available in the PDF version of this edition of High Notes.
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Sydney Boys High School
